OSCE PA resolution criticizing Russia, Belarus not to be included in final declaration
MINSK. July 9 (Interfax) - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) has rejected the resolution on the situation in Eastern Europe and will not include it in the final declaration in Minsk, an Interfax correspondent said.
The OSCE PA International Secretariat decided not to include the resolution in the final Minsk Declaration after the same number of delegates voted for and against the document during the final voting.
It was emphasized in the draft OSCE PA resolution that Russia must fully implement its obligations under the Minsk Agreements and also "use its extensive influence on pro-Russian illegal armed groups in the certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine" so that they do so as well. The Assembly condemns Crimea's unification with Russia, the draft document said.
The institution called on the Russian authorities to improve anti-discrimination laws and in particular, to provide LGBT community members and their associations with guarantees of defense against harassment.
The OSCE PA urged the Belarusian government to immediately and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all political prisoners, to deliver on its obligations within the OSCE in regard to freedom of assembly and expression, and to take appropriate measures to ensure free and fair elections in the future.
OSCE parliamentarians also urge the Belarusian administration to revoke, without delay, all the death sentences pronounced and to start working on the abolition of death penalty.
The Assembly also condemns the recent mass arrests in Belarus and the cases where local authorities allegedly violated the right to protest.
Apart from that, the OSCE PA urges the Azerbaijani government to take appropriate measures to maintain political pluralism, media freedom and freedom of expression, and to secure observance of human rights in the country.